Reigniting flame in volatile organic compound device

ABSTRACT

Reigniting a flame in a volatile organic compound (VOC) detector in the event that the flame has gone out. In one implementation, a signal is received at a handheld personal computer indicating that a flame in the VOC detector has gone out. The flame in the VOC detector may then be reignited using the handheld personal computer and a Bluetooth enabled device facilitating communication between the handheld personal computer and the VOC detector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/668,367, filed Jan. 29, 2007, and to be issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,034,290 on Oct. 11, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

Implementations of various technologies described herein are directed tovolatile organic compound (VOC) detection and to various methods and/orsystems for igniting a flame in a volatile organic compound (VOC)detector, e.g., reigniting a flame that has been extinguished in avolatile organic compound (VOC) detector.

2. Description of the Related Art

The following descriptions and examples do not constitute an admissionas prior art by virtue of their inclusion within this section.

Industrial plants that handle volatile organic compounds (VOCs)sometimes experience unwanted emissions of those compounds into theatmosphere from point sources, such as smokestacks, and non-pointsources, such as valves, pumps, and/or vessels containing the VOCs.Emissions from non-point sources typically occur due to leakage of theVOCs from joints and/or seals and may be referred to herein as “fugitiveemissions”. Fugitive emissions from control valves typically occur asleakage through the packing set around the valve stem. Control valvesused in demanding service conditions involving large temperaturefluctuations and frequent movements of the valve stem commonly sufferaccelerated deterioration of the valve stem packing set.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has promulgatedregulations specifying maximum permitted leakage of certain hazardousair pollutants, such as benzene, toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, fromcertain hardware or fixtures, e.g., control valves. The regulationsrequire facility operators to perform periodic surveys of the emissionsfrom all control valves and pump seals. The survey interval frequencymay be monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual. If the facilityoperator can document that a certain percentage of valves and pumps withexcessive leakage are below a prescribed minimum, the required surveysbecome less frequent. Thus, achieving a low percentage of leaking valvesreduces the number of surveys required per year, which may result inlarge cost savings.

Fugitive emissions are typically monitored using a VOC detector, whichmay also be referred to as a vapor analyzer. Due to the location of thecontrol valves and a tendency to jar the VOC detector during operation,the flame inside the VOC detector may often go out during detection.When this happens, the technician operating the VOC detector may need toreignite the flame, e.g., by manually reigniting the flame. Manualreignition has a number of disadvantages, including having to unstrapthe VOC detector from the back of the technician. If the flameextinguishes while the technician is in the process of climbing up aladder on a structure, e.g., en route to a location where detection willtake place, then the entire detection process is disrupted and often,for safety reasons, the technician not only has to stop climbing theladder, but changes direction and goes back down the ladder, so that theVOC detector can be safely unstrapped and the flame manually reignited.Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for the methods and systemsdisclosed below.

SUMMARY

Described herein are implementations of various technologies of a methodfor igniting a flame in a volatile organic compound (VOC) detector. Inone implementation, the method includes transmitting a first signal tothe VOC detector through a wireless device. The signal is configured toignite a flame in the VOC detector.

In another implementation, the method may include receiving a signal ata handheld personal computer indicating that a flame in the VOC detectoris extinguished and reigniting the flame in the VOC detector using awireless device configured to facilitate communication between thehandheld personal computer and the VOC detector.

Also described herein are implementations of various technologies for avolatile chemical (VOC) detection system, which may include a VOCdetector and a handheld personal computer in communication with the VOCdetector. The handheld personal computer may be configured to control anoperation of the VOC detector. The VOC detection system may furtherinclude a wireless device in communication with the VOC detector and thehandheld personal computer. The wireless device may be configured tofacilitate communication between the VOC detector and the handheldpersonal computer.

Still further, described herein are implementations of varioustechnologies for a volatile chemical (VOC) detector, which may include aprocessor and a memory comprising program instructions executable by theprocessor to receive a first signal indicating that a flame in the VOCdetector is extinguished; send a first command to a signal inverter toground port B of the VOC detector for a first predetermined amount oftime and apply a first positive voltage to port B once the firstpredetermined amount of time has lapsed; receive a second signalindicating an option to reignite the flame in the VOC detector; and senda second command to the signal inverter to ground port C of the VOCdetector for a second predetermined amount of time and apply a secondpositive voltage to port C once the second predetermined amount of timehas lapsed.

The above referenced summary section is provided to introduce aselection of concepts in a simplified form that are further describedbelow in the detailed description section. The summary is not intendedto identify key features or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimedsubject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limitedto implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any partof this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of various technologies will hereafter be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood,however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only the variousimplementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope ofvarious technologies described herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a VOC detection system inaccordance with one or more implementations of various technologiesdescribed herein

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a handheld personal computerin accordance with one or more implementations of various technologiesdescribed herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a signal diagram for reigniting a flame in the VOCdetector in accordance with one or more implementations of varioustechnologies described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The discussion below is directed to certain specific implementations. Itis to be understood that the discussion below is only for the purpose ofenabling a person with ordinary skill in the art to make and use anysubject matter defined now or later by the patent “claims” found in anyissued patent herein.

The following paragraphs generally describe implementations of varioustechniques directed to various methods and systems for igniting a flamein a volatile organic compound (VOC) detector or reigniting a flame thathas been extinguished. In one implementation, the VOC detection systemincludes a VOC detector in communication with a handheld personalcomputer (PC), a signal inverter coupled to the VOC detector and aBluetooth enabled device for facilitating communication between the VOCdetector and the handheld PC. The Bluetooth enabled device communicateswith the handheld PC wirelessly.

In operation, when a flame inside the VOC detector extinguishes, the VOCdetector sends an error message to the handheld PC via the Bluetoothenabled device. In response, the technician may send a first commandthrough the handheld PC to the signal inverter. Upon receipt of thefirst command, the signal inverter grounds port B of the VOC detectorfor a predetermined amount of time and applies a positive voltage afterthe predetermined amount of time has lapsed. Upon detection that itsport B was grounded for the predetermined amount of time and thepositive voltage is applied to the port, the VOC detector clears theerror message and sends an option to reignite the flame to the handheldPC via the Bluetooth enabled device. Upon receipt of this option, thetechnician may then send a second command through the handheld PC to thesignal inverter. Upon receipt of the second command, the signal invertergrounds port C of the VOC detector for a predetermined amount of timeand applies a positive voltage after the predetermined amount of timehas lapsed. Upon detecting that port C has been grounded for thepredetermined amount of time and the positive voltage is applied to portC, the VOC detector reignites the flame. One or more techniques forreigniting a flame in the VOC detector in accordance with variousimplementations are described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1-3in the following paragraphs.

FIG. 1 illustrates a VOC detection system 100 in accordance with one ormore implementations of various technologies described herein. The VOCdetection system 100 may also be referred to as a toxic vapor analyzer(TVA). The VOC detection system 100 may include a VOC detector oranalyzer 10 configured to detect volatile organic chemicals, emissionsgases, nitroaromatics, chemical warfare agents and the like. In oneimplementation, the VOC detector 10 is TVA-1000 available from TheFoxboro Company out of Massachusetts, USA. However, it should beunderstood that some implementations may use other types of VOCdetectors. The VOC detector 10 may include an organic or inorganic vapormonitor using a flame ionization detector (FID) or both an FID and aphotoionization detector (PID). The VOC detector 10 may be coupled to asignal inverter 20, which may be configured to invert a positive voltagesignal to ground. Although the signal inverter 20 is described herein asbeing configured to invert a positive signal to ground, it should beunderstood that in some implementations depending on the configurationof the VOC detector 10, the signal inverter 20 may be configured toinvert a positive voltage to a negative voltage or invert a negativevoltage signal to a positive voltage signal. Likewise, although the VOCdetector 10 is described as operating with a signal inverter 20, itshould be understood that in some implementations the VOC detector 10may operate with other devices having the same or similarfunctionalities as the signal inverter 20, such as an electro-mechanicalrelay, a solid state relay, or an integrated circuit that would operateto pull a positive voltage signal to ground.

The signal inverter 20 may be coupled to the VOC detector 10 via cable17 at port B and via cable 18 at port C. Various cables described hereinmay be made of copper. However, it should be understood that the variouscables may be made from other types of material, such as fiber optic,aluminum and the like. Port D of the VOC detector 10 may be connected toground.

The VOC detector 10 may further be coupled to a Bluetooth enabled device110. As such, port A of the VOC detector 10 may be coupled to atransceiver 120 portion of the Bluetooth enabled device 110 via cable13. The Bluetooth enabled device 110 is described in more detail in theparagraphs below.

The signal inverter 20 may also be coupled to the Bluetooth enableddevice 110 via cable 15 and cable 16. In one implementation, the signalinverter 20 may be a Quadruple Line Receiver™ available from TexasInstruments headquartered in Dallas, Tex. However, it should beunderstood that other implementations may use a signal inverter that mayhave a different configuration or design and manufactured by companiesother than Texas Instruments.

The term “Bluetooth enabled device” as used herein means any device thatis enabled with Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth is a wireless technologythat operates in the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, and Medical(ISM) radio band of 2.4 GHz. Bluetooth technology includes a number ofprotocols that allow Bluetooth enabled devices to operate in apeer-to-peer environment forming piconets. The Bluetooth protocol andspecification may be found in: Bluetooth system; Specification Volumes 1and 2, Core and Profiles: Version 1.1, 22 Feb. 2001. The Bluetoothenabled device 110 may be configured to facilitate communication betweenthe VOC detector 10, the signal inverter 20 and a handheld personalcomputer (PC) 50, which will be described in more detail in theparagraphs below. The Bluetooth enabled device 110 may include atransceiver 120 and a processor 130. The processor 130 may be coupled tothe transceiver 120 by cable 14.

The processor 130 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a systemmemory and a system bus that couples various system components includingthe system memory to the CPU. The system memory may include a read onlymemory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). A basic input/outputsystem (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help transferinformation between elements within the processor 130, such as duringstart-up, may be stored in the ROM.

The Bluetooth enabled device 110 may be in communication with thehandheld PC 50 wirelessly. Although implementations of varioustechnologies are described herein with reference to the Bluetoothenabled device 110, it should be understood that some implementationsmay use other type of wireless data communication or protocol, such asSpread Spectrum, Broadband, Wi-Fi and the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a handheld PC 200 inaccordance with one or more implementations of various technologiesdescribed herein. The handheld PC 200 may include a central processingunit (CPU) 221, a system memory 222 and a system bus 223 that couplesvarious system components including the system memory 222 to the CPU221. Although only one CPU is illustrated in FIG. 2, it should beunderstood that in some implementations the handheld PC 200 may includemore than one CPU. The system bus 223 may be any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By wayof example, and not limitation, such architectures may include IndustryStandard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus,Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA)local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known asMezzanine bus. The system memory 222 may include a read only memory(ROM) 224 and a random access memory (RAM) 225. A basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) 226, containing the basic routines that help transferinformation between elements within the handheld PC 200, such as duringstart-up, may be stored in the ROM 224.

The handheld PC 200 may further include a hard disk drive 227 forreading from and writing to a hard disk. The hard disk drive 227 may beconnected to the system bus 223 by a hard disk drive interface 232. Thedrives and their associated computer-readable media may providenonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules and other data for the handheld PC 200.

The handheld PC 200 may further include computer-readable media that maybe accessed by the CPU 221. For example, such computer-readable mediamay include computer storage media and communication media. Computerstorage media may include volatile and non-volatile, and removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data. Computer storage media may furtherinclude RAM, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flashmemory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatiledisks (DVD), or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetictape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium which can be used to store the desired information andwhich can be accessed by the CPU 221. Communication media may embodycomputer readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or othertransport mechanism and may include any information delivery media. Theterm “modulated data signal” may mean a signal that has one or more ofits characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encodeinformation in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media may include wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above mayalso be included within the scope of computer readable media.

A number of program modules may be stored on ROM 224 or RAM 225,including an operating system 235, one or more application programs 236and a flame reignition program 240. The operating system 235 may be anysuitable operating system that may control the operation of a networkedpersonal or server computer, such as Windows® XP, Mac OS® X,Unix-variants (e.g., Linux® and BSD®), and the like. The flamereignition program 240 will be described in more detail with referenceto FIG. 3 in the paragraphs below.

It should be understood that the various technologies described hereinmay be implemented in connection with hardware, software or acombination of both. Thus, various technologies, or certain aspects orportions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions)embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, harddrives, or any other machine-readable storage medium wherein, when theprogram code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as acomputer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the varioustechnologies. In the case of program code execution on programmablecomputers, the computing device may include a processor, a storagemedium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatilememory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at leastone output device. One or more programs that may implement or utilizethe various technologies described herein may use an applicationprogramming interface (API), reusable controls, and the like. Suchprograms may be implemented in a high level procedural or objectoriented programming language to communicate with a computer system.However, the program(s) may be implemented in assembly or machinelanguage, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled orinterpreted language, and combined with hardware implementations.

FIG. 3 illustrates a signal diagram 300 for reigniting a flame in theVOC detector 10 in accordance with one or more implementations ofvarious technologies described herein. At time T1, when the flameextinguishes in the VOC detector 10, the VOC detector 10 may send anerror signal through port A via cable 13 to the transceiver 120, whichmay then forward the error signal to the handheld PC 50 wirelessly.

In response to receiving the error signal, the handheld PC 50 maydisplay the error message to the user/operator. For example, thehandheld PC 50 may display WARNING: FLAME OUT. In one implementation,the same message may be displayed on the screen of the VOC detector 10.

At time T2, upon seeing the display, the user may send a first commandfrom the handheld PC 50 to the processor 130 through the transceiver 120wirelessly. The first command may include a first portion and a secondportion. In one implementation, the first portion and the second portionmay be separated by a predetermined time delay, e.g., about 1 second toabout 3 seconds. Upon receipt of the first portion, the processor 130may send a positive 5 volts signal along cable 15 to the signal inverter20, which may then apply a zero voltage signal to cable 17, therebygrounding port B of the VOC 10. A positive voltage is typically appliedto port B during operation. In one implementation, the signal inverter20 may ground cable 17 using port D, which is connected to ground.

At time T3, after the predetermined time delay has lapsed, upon receiptof the second portion, the processor 130 may apply a normal state signalalong cable 15 to the signal inverter 20, which may then remove the zerovoltage previously applied to cable 17 and apply a positive voltagetypically applied to port B during operation.

In this manner, the first command may operate as a toggling signal. Thefirst portion may be configured to ground cable 17, while the secondportion may be configured to stop the grounding cable 17 and apply anoperating voltage to cable 17. In one implementation, the first portionmay be ST, 0808 and the second portion may be ST, 0800.

At time T4, upon detecting that port B, to which cable 17 is connected,has been switched to ground for a predetermined amount of time (e.g.,about 1 second to about 3 seconds) and returned to its operatingvoltage, the VOC detector 10 may clear the error message on its screenand display a set of options for addressing the flame out situation onits screen.

One option for addressing the flame out situation is to reignite theflame. As such, the VOC detector 10 may send the set of options to thetransceiver 120 through cable 13. The transceiver 120 may then forwardthe set of options to the handheld PC 50 wirelessly. Alternatively, theVOC detector 10 may send only the option to reignite the flame to thetransceiver 120.

At time T5, upon receipt of an option to reignite the flame, the usermay wirelessly send a second command from the handheld PC 50 to theprocessor 130 through the transceiver 120. The second command mayinclude a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and thesecond portion may be separated by a predetermined time delay, e.g.,about 1 second to 3 seconds. Upon receipt of the first portion of thesecond command, the processor 130 may apply a positive 5 volts signalalong cable 16 to the signal inverter 20, which may then switch cable 18to ground. As mentioned above, the signal inverter 20 may use port D,which is connected to ground, to ground cable 18.

At time T6, after the predetermined time delay has lapsed, upon receiptof the second portion of the second command, the processor 130 may applya normal state signal along cable 16 to the signal inverter 20, whichmay then remove the zero voltage previously applied to cable 18 andapply a positive voltage typically applied to cable 18 during operation.

In this manner, the second command may operate as a toggling signal. Thefirst portion may be configured to ground cable 18, while the secondportion may be configured to stop the grounding cable 18 and apply anoperating voltage to cable 18. In one implementation, the first portionmay be ST, 0404 and the second portion may be ST, 0400.

Upon detecting that port C, to which cable 18 is connected, has beenswitched to ground for the predetermined amount of time (e.g., about 1second to about 3 seconds) and returned to its operating voltage, theVOC detector 10 may reignite the flame.

Although the commands that control the operation of the VOC detector 10,e.g., for reigniting the flame, have been described with reference tothe handheld PC 50, it should be understood that in some implementationsthe commands may be sent from the Bluetooth enabled device 110. Forinstance, the commands to clear the error message displayed due to theflame having been extinguished may be sent via a switch on the Bluetoothenabled device 110. The commands to reignite the flame may be sent usingthe same switch or in combination with another switch on the Bluetoothenabled device 110.

Although implementations of various technologies described herein aredescribed with reference to a handheld PC, it should be understood thatsome implementations may be operational with other types of computingsystems, such as laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, programmable consumer electronics, networkPCs, minicomputers, personal computers and the like.

The various technologies described herein may be implemented in thegeneral context of computer-executable instructions, such as programmodules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc.that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. The various technologies described herein may also be implementedin distributed computing environments where tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork, e.g., by hardwired links, wireless links, or combinationsthereof. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may belocated in both local and remote computer storage media including memorystorage devices.

While the foregoing is directed to implementations of varioustechnologies described herein, other and further implementations may bedevised without departing from the basic scope thereof, which may bedetermined by the claims that follow. Although the subject matter hasbeen described in language specific to structural features and/ormethodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matterdefined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to thespecific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific featuresand acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementingthe claims.

1. A method for igniting a flame in a volatile organic compound (VOC)detector, comprising: sending a first command to a signal invertercoupled to the VOC detector, wherein the first command is configured toclear an error message in the VOC detector by (i) grounding a first portof the VOC detector and (ii) removing the ground from the first portafter a predetermined amount of time has lapsed; and sending a secondcommand to the signal inverter, wherein the second command is configuredto ignite a flame in the VOC detector by (i) grounding a second port ofthe VOC detector and (ii) removing the ground from the second port,thereby igniting the flame.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstcommand and second command are sent to the signal inverter using awireless device.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first command andsecond command are sent by activating a switch on the wireless device.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first command comprises a firstportion configured to cause the signal inverter to ground the first portof the VOC detector for the predetermined amount of time.
 5. The methodof claim 4, wherein the predetermined amount of time ranges from aboutone second to about three seconds.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thesecond command comprises a first portion configured to cause the signalinverter to ground the second port of the VOC detector for apredetermined amount of time.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein thesecond command further comprises a second portion configured to causethe signal inverter to remove the ground from the second port after thepredetermined amount of time has lapsed.
 8. The method of claim 4,further comprising receiving an option to reignite the flame in the VOCdetector after the first port has been grounded for the predeterminedamount of time.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second command issent to the VOC detector in response to receiving the option to reignitethe flame in the VOC detector.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst command and the second command are sent to the signal inverterfrom a handheld personal computer through a wireless device facilitatingcommunication between the handheld personal computer and the signalinverter.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first command comprisesapplying a positive voltage to the first port of the VOC detector afterremoving the ground.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondcommand comprises applying a positive voltage to the second port of theVOC detector after removing the ground.
 13. A volatile organic compound(VOC) detection system, comprising: a VOC detector; and a wirelessdevice in communication with the VOC detector, wherein the wirelessdevice is configured to control an operation of the VOC detector andcomprises a processor and memory having program instructions executableby the processor to: send a first command to the VOC detector, whereinthe first command is configured to clear an error message in the VOCdetector by (i) grounding a first port of the VOC detector and (ii)removing the ground from the first port after a predetermined amount oftime has lapsed; and send a second command to the VOC detector, whereinthe second command is configured to ignite a flame in the VOC detectorby (i) grounding a second port of the VOC detector and (ii) removing theground from the second port, thereby igniting the flame.
 14. The VOCdetection system of claim 13, wherein the first command is transmittedby activating a switch on the wireless device.
 15. The VOC detectionsystem of claim 13, wherein the second command is transmitted byactivating a switch on the wireless device.
 16. The VOC detection systemof claim 13, wherein the VOC detector is configured to send an errorsignal to the wireless device upon detecting that the flame in the VOCdetector has gone out.
 17. The VOC detection system of claim 13, furthercomprising a signal inverter coupled between the wireless device and theVOC detector, and wherein the first command causes the signal inverterto ground the first port of the VOC detector for the predeterminedamount of time and remove the ground from the first port after thepredetermined amount of time has lapsed.
 18. The VOC detection system ofclaim 13, further comprising a signal inverter coupled between thewireless device and the VOC detector, and wherein the second commandcauses the signal inverter to ground the second port of the VOC detectorfor a second predetermined amount of time and remove the ground from thesecond port after the second predetermined amount of time has lapsed.19. A handheld personal computer for operating a volatile chemical (VOC)detector, comprising: a processor; and a memory comprising programinstructions executable by the processor to: send a first command to theVOC detector, wherein the first command is configured to clear an errormessage by (i) grounding a first port of the VOC detector and (ii)removing the ground from the first port after a predetermined amount oftime has lapsed; and send a second command to the VOC detector toreignite a flame.
 20. The handheld personal computer of claim 19,wherein the second command is configured to cause a signal invertercoupled to the VOC detector to ground a second port of the VOC detectorfor a predetermined amount of time and stop the grounding of the secondport after the predetermined amount of time has lapsed.
 21. A handheldpersonal computer for operating a volatile chemical (VOC) detector,comprising: a processor; and a memory comprising program instructionsexecutable by the processor to: receive a first signal from the VOCdetector having an error message indicating that a flame in the VOCdetector is extinguished; send a first command to the VOC detector toclear the error message, wherein the first command is configured tocause a signal inverter coupled to the VOC detector to ground a firstport of the VOC detector for a predetermined amount of time and stop thegrounding of the first port after the predetermined amount of time haslapsed; receive a second signal from the VOC detector indicating anoption to reignite the flame in the VOC detector; and send a secondcommand to the VOC detector to reignite the flame.
 22. The handheldpersonal computer of claim 21, wherein the signal inverter is anelectro-mechanical relay, a solid state relay or an integrated circuit.23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereoncomputer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer,cause the computer to: send a first command to a signal inverter coupledto a volatile organic compound (VOC) detector, wherein the first commandis configured to clear an error message in the VOC detector by (i)grounding a first port of the VOC detector and (ii) removing the groundfrom the first port after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed; andsend a second command to the signal inverter, wherein the second commandis configured to ignite a flame in the VOC detector by (i) grounding asecond port of the VOC detector and (ii) removing the ground from thesecond port, thereby igniting the flame.
 24. The computer-readablemedium of claim 23, wherein the first command comprises a first portionconfigured to cause the signal inverter to ground the first port of theVOC detector for the predetermined amount of time.
 25. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the first command furthercomprises a second portion configured to cause the signal inverter toremove the ground from the first port after the predetermined amount oftime has lapsed.
 26. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, whereinthe second command comprises a first portion configured to cause thesignal inverter to ground the second port of the VOC detector for apredetermined amount of time.
 27. The computer-readable medium of claim26, wherein the second command further comprises a second portionconfigured to cause the signal inverter to remove the ground from thesecond port after the predetermined amount of time has lapsed.
 28. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising receiving anoption to reignite the flame in the VOC detector after the first porthas been grounded for the predetermined amount of time.
 29. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the second command is sentto the VOC detector in response to receiving the option to reignite theflame in the VOC detector.